Ludden: Brent Barry almost dealt for JR Smith

[kolko]

Spurs' Barry nearly dealt to Hornets

Web Posted: 02/24/2006 12:00 AM CST

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Spurs arrived Thursday evening with 13 players, one more, apparently, than with which they intended to depart San Antonio.

The Spurs nearly traded Brent Barry on Thursday afternoon in a multi-team deal that would have netted New Orleans guard J.R. Smith, two NBA sources said.

The deal was close enough to completion — one opposing team executive said he had heard it was done — that Spurs officials initially told Barry he might not need to board the team's charter flight here.

The deal unraveled near the league's 2 p.m. trade deadline, which was an hour before the Spurs were scheduled to depart. After Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told Barry the trade was dead, Barry accompanied the team here.

Barry has played sparingly this month since Manu Ginobili returned from the inactive list. Smith, 20, would have helped the Spurs get younger and more athletic on the perimeter, though the trade would have been made with the future more in mind than this season.

Smith was taken with the 18th overall pick in the 2004 draft but since has fallen out of favor with Hornets coach Byron Scott, who doesn't think the young guard has worked hard enough to improve.

Barry has two years remaining on his contract after this season.

Link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA022406.4D.BKNspurs.barry.1cfa7efd.html)

[Kori Ellis]

Damn. That would have been sweet.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Damn!!!

[timvp]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. :pctoss

Spurs almost pulled off the steal of the decade. JR Smith has sick amount of talent.

One day we'll look back on today as the day the Spurs almost pulled off the biggest ripoff of all-time.

Think of what happened the last time the Spurs took on a player Byron Scott gave up on. Stephen Jackson didn't turn out half bad. Now imagine that, but this time with an even more talented player.

[Leetonidas]

Now me and timvp are pissed.

[Kori Ellis]

Props to Que Gee and his source for letting us know earlier that it was the Hornets.

[gospursgojas]

Damn JR Smith can Ball...

Ahhh well

[Leetonidas]

Wouldn't it be cool if the Spurs got an extention on this and it went through? Not going to happen, but I can fantasize...

Now I have to go to bed and get up mad. Just great. Coulda...shoulda...woulda...

[Peter]

um, fuck.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Ghost Writer can be heard crying tonight.

But damn, that would have been a robbery.

[timvp]

This reminds me of the time the Spurs almost signed Jermaine O'Neal back in the summer of 1999.

[midgetonadonkey]

Fuck!!!!!

[Cant_Be_Faded]

*shakes head in disgust*

[spurs=bling]

:pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss

WHO CANCELED THE TRADE!!?!?!?!?!

[Peter]

I wonder what blew it up.

[Leetonidas]

This reminds me of the time the Spurs almost signed Jermaine O'Neal back in the summer of 1999.

They could've had him a couple years ago too, if Isiah had been fired sooner.

[gospursgojas]

:pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss

WHO CANCELED THE TRADE!!?!?!?!?!

Yeah... I wonder what did happen to put a stop to this...

[gospursgojas]

Remember when they also could of had Elton Brand

[timvp]

I wonder what blew it up.

I'm guessing Thorn had a hand in it. He's on the Spurs nutz hardcore.

[Kori Ellis]

It says part of a multi-team deal. I'm guessing they were supposed to be part of the Marc Jackson deal.

[Leetonidas]

um, fuck.

That sums it up perfectly.

[Peter]

Stern's henchman. Oh well, hopefully the Spurs Euro prospects can help make this mute.

[timvp]

Another season, another CIA Pop. Pop insisted that no trade was going to be made.

:spin

[spurs=bling]

Did J.R. want alot of money??

[Peter]

That bastard took Krstic from the Spurs, now Smith.

[Kori Ellis]

Did J.R. want alot of money??

It's not about that. Players salaries don't change when they get traded.

[Peter]

Did J.R. want alot of money??

Perhaps. But he's not going to get any more for a couple more seasons.

[gospursgojas]

Wasnt Smith in Scott's doghouse though???

Is he a headcase???

[Peter]

Wasnt Smith in Scott's doghouse though???

Is he a headcase???

With Scott, it's relative.

[timvp]

JR would have been the perfect player to groom. He's ultra-athletic. He's pretty long. He has unlimited range. He isn't afraid to shoot.

And most importantly, he could have been had and kept for peanuts.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Man, I'd of rather not known who the trade was gonna be for, now im kinda pissed

[Trainwreck2100]

http://media.theinsiders.com/Media/Other/229031_faint.GIF

[Peter]

At least they tried. They almost got someone to do something stupid.

[midgetonadonkey]

Fuck!!

:pctoss

[Trainwreck2100]

Wasnt Smith in Scott's doghouse though???

Is he a headcase???

So was Stephon Jackson, and having him turned out real bad, didn't it.

[timvp]

Wasnt Smith in Scott's doghouse though???

Is he a headcase???

He's 20-year-old and he shoots too much. That isn't a good mix for a team built around a point guard. If he has the ball, he wants to shoot it.

In the Spurs system, that's a good thing from a perimeter player. He'd step right in and knock down the shots that Barry, Finley, Hedo, etc. have passed up over the years.

[DieMrBond]

I wonder how Barry is going to react - if he reacts with a chip on the shoulder, and starts playing up to his (3pt) potential, this could be one of those 'trades that we are better off didnt happen'. OR he could play worse, because he felt 'betrayed'.

Fingers crossed it lights a fire under his ass.

[gospursgojas]

So was Stephon Jackson, and having him turned out real bad, didn't it.

Thats true...

Damn we could of had another SJax

[Peter]

Well, if he sulks then they'll have Finley and perhaps Sprewell to pick up the slack off the bench.

[timvp]

I wonder how Barry is going to react - if he reacts with a chip on the shoulder, and starts playing up to his (3pt) potential, this could be one of those 'trades that we are better off didnt happen'. OR he could play worse, because he felt 'betrayed'.

Fingers crossed it lights a fire under his ass.

He can go to Robert Horry for a talk. Horry was nearly traded for Sean Elliott when he was with the Rockets. The trade fell through and Horry and the Rockets went on to repeat as champions.

[gospursgojas]

I wonder how Barry is going to react - if he reacts with a chip on the shoulder, and starts playing up to his (3pt) potential, this could be one of those 'trades that we are better off didnt happen'. OR he could play worse, because he felt 'betrayed'.

Fingers crossed it lights a fire under his ass.

Good question.... I dont think Barry is the kind of guy that would do the latter

[Kori Ellis]

He doesn't strike me as someone who will sulk. And he's not an idiot, so I'm sure he knew before today that he might be traded. It wasn't hard to figure out.

Anyway .. oh well, can't dwell on what didn't happen.

[timvp]

The bright spot is that if something happens, Barry is capable of filling in. JR Smith is probably a couple years away.

Oh well.

[spurs=bling]

http://media.theinsiders.com/Media/Other/229031_faint.GIF

wait i feel a pulse ____/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

wait i'm losing him...hes gone __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _______________________

[Peter]

Assuming for the moment that the Nets were involved, then I guess the Nets didn't want to take back the salary that would've made such a deal work, which would've been maybe a mil or so. Guessing, it might've been Marc Jackson and Smith to SA, Barry to NO/OKC and something to NJ.

edit - that something would've probably been Nachbar.

[Trainwreck2100]

Lets look at this in another light, maybe Smith sucks, and Pop planned for the deal to not go through. A rival sees our interest, knows how good our front office is and trades for him in the offseason. Then Smith brings the franchise down from the inside.


CIA???

[spurs=bling]

Lets look at this in another light, maybe Smith sucks, and Pop planned for the deal to not go through. A rival sees our interest, knows how good our front office is and trades for him in the offseason. Then Smith brings the franchise down from the inside.


CIA???

yeah i would like to believe that too.

[baseline bum]

Shit. I was pissed when I heard Fisher's name as a guy the Spurs missed out on, but this is even worse! Pop + raw talent usually comes out pretty well for this franchise.

[Peter]

Continuing the guessing, the Nets probably didn't want what the Spurs offered to try to sweeten the deal, which might've been a pick.

[timvp]

http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2005/01/13/20050112204840.jpeg


What Could Have Been.

[Peter]

Thorn is going to pull off the trifecta when the Nets sign Thomas or at least their interest is enough to prevent the Bulls from waiving him or they waive him after the playoff waiver deadline.

[Peter]

NJ also sent cash to NO/OKC.

[timvp]

Thorn is going to pull off the trifecta when the Nets sign Thomas or at least their interest is enough to prevent the Bulls from waiving him or they waive him after the playoff waiver deadline.

:lol

I didn't even think of that. So now we have Krstic, JR Smith and perhaps Tim Thomas. And if the SARS rumors were true over the summer, the Nets snagged him and then unexpectedly didn't sign him after it looked like was a done deal.

Hmmm...

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire.

[E20]

Ahh come on guys, now imagine how Brent feels don't you guys have any sympathy?

[Peter]

:lol

I didn't even think of that. So now we have Krstic, JR Smith and perhaps Tim Thomas. And if the SARS rumors were true over the summer, the Nets snagged him and then unexpectedly didn't sign him after it looked like was a done deal.

Hmmm...

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire.


Lest we forget Kidd. Then again, maybe it isn't that bad.

[SequSpur]

One minor correction to this story:

Stephen Jackson > JR Smith

[Kori Ellis]

Well one day again eventually the Spurs will have an athletic, young athlete who can jump and dunk :smokin

[timvp]

Lest we forget Kidd. Then again, maybe it isn't that bad.

Or Linton Johnson III.

:smokin

If the Spurs are involved, Thorn is right there to try to mess it up.

[Peter]

It's a long shot, but perhaps the Spurs can pay back the Nets by landing Thomas. That would take some persuasion though.

[Peter]

Stern probably has something on Thorn.

[Kori Ellis]

It's a long shot, but perhaps the Spurs can pay back the Nets by landing Thomas. That would take some persuasion though.

If he even gets bought out.

He wants the full amount in the buyout. Who knows if that will even happen.

[Peter]

Of course, it might've been NO/OKC who preferred keeping Smith to dealing him, landing Barry, keeping Nachbar and not getting Jackson.

[Peter]

If he even gets bought out.

He wants the full amount in the buyout. Who knows if that will even happen.

Yeah. The Bulls are posturing with their statements about not wanting him to go to a rival right now. If he's giving up $ to get out of Chicago, then he's really going to want to go to a situation where he can get a ton of minutes and audition for some summer $.

[T-Pain]

wow, i cant believe the spurs were actually looking to go younger, especially with JR Smith. damn, i woulda welcomed JR with open arms

[Peter]

Finally, I wonder if the Spurs not bringing back Glenn Robinson might weigh on Thomas' decision. Then again, no one else in the league wanted him.

[rayray2k8]

:bang son of a bitch!!!
Typical Pop, saying he aint do squat, next day, they almost pull off a hell of a trade..
What did happen to JR anyway?
Was he sent to the Nets??

[Que Gee]

Well one day again eventually the Spurs will have an athletic, young athlete who can jump and dunk :smokin

I would have liked to have JR, even though I'm a staunch defender of Barry. I think the bigger thing here, is that they are trying to clear cap room to resign Nazi this summer.

[Peter]

I would have liked to have JR, even though I'm a staunch defender of Barry. I think the bigger thing here, is that they are trying to clear cap room to resign Nazi this summer.

That's definitely a way to read this. Though payroll reduction for the sake of payroll reduction is not out of the realm of possibilities.

[T-Pain]

damn, im so depressed. i woulda loved JR smith on the spurs. i cant believe it.

[Pandaemonaeon]

Did J.R. want alot of money??

I asked a Hornets fan why he wasn't getting much PT and it was a combination of him being an awful volume shooter (with http://img93.exs.cx/img93/579/siren.gif tremendous upside potential http://img93.exs.cx/img93/579/siren.gif) that doesn't do anything else and the classic "Byron Scott is a huge control freak asshole". Since the Hornets have a shot at making the playoffs, he doesn't want to fuck it up I guess.

[ploto]

I actualy think was a separate deal from the Nets deal for Nachbar. First, if I remember correctly that deal was known about earlier in the day and the article says the SA deal fell through right before the deadline. Also in the ESPN story about the Nets deal it says:

"Scott said the Hornets were close to another deal, but ran out of time before the deadline at 3 p.m. EST deadline."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2342131

[Peter]

Man I hope this deal didn't fall apart because somebody didn't send a form to the league on time.

[Peter]

Who knows? Maybe if Scott and Smith continue to not get along this deal could be revisited this summer.

Oh well, two drops in a bucket. Mother....

[T Park]

son of a....

JR Smith is a future all star, and isn't now, only because Byron Scott is a moron.

[Brutalis]

now. i am so fucking pissed off.

[Trainwreck2100]

http://www.ezekielbearsports.com/bbs/images/yahoo/Adult/drinkingbeer.gif

[ca®lo]

damn!!!!

i guess this all shows how much we all love barry here in the forum huh? hehe

fuck. :drunk

[ace3g]

What could have been ....

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/4351/jrsmith8bc.jpg

[Trainwreck2100]

damn!!!!

i guess this all shows how much we all love barry huh?

fuck.


I'm a HUGE Barry fan, but this guy is better.

[aaronstampler]

I'm kind of hoping Barry becomes another Horry and sucks for five months and then comes alive for the playoffs. I've just about given up on him, but still, JR Smith? Come on. All he can do is dunk.

Brent could miss a hundred shots in a row (and he might in fact have), but I think I'd still trust him more to shoot a three in the playoffs than Fin. Barry has a track record of success to fall back on. Fin is notorious for getting worse in the playoffs. Then again, Brent has nowhere to go but up...

[Brutalis]

What could have been ....

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/4351/jrsmith8bc.jpg
:pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss

[ca®lo]

now how the hell would barry be able to perform now.

so far he still hasnt been the great spot up shooter that weve expected. except n a few games.

i just hope this inspires brent to work harder and actually shoot the damn ball if hes open.

of course, not bricking it is another thing.

[Trainwreck2100]

now how the hell would barry be able to perform now.



Smoething like this turned Robert Horry into who he is.

[timvp]

I'm kind of hoping Barry becomes another Horry and sucks for five months and then comes alive for the playoffs. I've just about given up on him, but still, JR Smith? Come on. All he can do is dunk.

Brent could miss a hundred shots in a row (and he might in fact have), but I think I'd still trust him more to shoot a three in the playoffs than Fin. Barry has a track record of success to fall back on. Fin is notorious for getting worse in the playoffs. Then again, Brent has nowhere to go but up...

Smith just a dunker? He's a better three-point shooter than Barry is.

[Peter]

So why did the Hornets look to move Smith for Barry or like value?

http://hornetsreport.com/HRForums/showthread.php?t=31850


http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/114076517539890.xml

"I stop talking to people that don't listen," Scott said. "I'm not going to waste my breath. I've sat down with J.R. on numerous occasions and told him what he needed to do, so have Coach (Darrell) Walker and Coach (Kenny) Gattison and Coach (Jim) Cleamons. And like I said before, if you chose to do it, then we'll work.



"If he chose not to, there is nothing I can do about that. I tell all our players what they need to do to improve. I have an open-door policy. There hasn't been one time that J.R. has come into my office and talked to me. Like I said, he's lying."



"I wasn't surprised at all, because his ego is too big in order to put something petty aside and try to win the game," Smith said. "At this point, something has to be done; I'm not going to prosper from this situation. When you can't communicate with the head guy, something is wrong. I come in early, stay in late, and if that don't work, I don't know what will. So there is nothing for me to do. I've approached him (Scott) numerous times, tried to call, set up meetings -- no communication. Every team I've been on, I've always been friends with the head coach."

Replace "J.R." with "Jack" and you have an oldie but a goodie.

[Streakyshooter08]

How come this whould have worked contract wise? Isn't J.R. a 2nd year player? Doesn't he get a lot less than 4 mio/year? Just curious... but it would have been a great trade anyways...

[Winnipeg_Spur]

God, so we could've gotten some serious talent and cut salary at the same time? That would've been a perfect Spur trade... :smokin

:pctoss

[PM5K]

How come this whould have worked contract wise? Isn't J.R. a 2nd year player? Doesn't he get a lot less than 4 mio/year? Just curious... but it would have been a great trade anyways...

That's why more than two teams were involved...

[Dalamar_the_Dark]

As much as I like Barry, I think the Spurs needed to do this cause of salary cap constraints next season. Its not about signing Nazr to an extension but as much as I would have welcomed JR Smith, I think using Barry as trade bait Spurs should think about getting a young center in return.

[MajicMan]

I'm glad the rich didn't get richer :spin

[sanman53]

Well, now the Spurs can stop using Barry sparingly and give him a chance...

[ploto]

How come this whould have worked contract wise? Isn't J.R. a 2nd year player? Doesn't he get a lot less than 4 mio/year? Just curious... but it would have been a great trade anyways...
Actually the Spurs could have traded Brent DIRECTLY for JR Smith because the Hornets have the cap room to absorb the extra salary. That is what I find intriguing- another team did not have to be involved- so what is the rest of the story. There has to be more to this than just Brent and JR because the Spurs and Hornets could have done that even if some other team pulled out.

[ca®lo]

seriously. im worried about brent.

i just wish he'll use this to catapult his performance at least come playoff time.

[ObiwanGinobili]

Another season, another CIA Pop. Pop insisted that no trade was going to be made.

:spin

:lol
yes, I've learned to treat everythign he says as an out & out lie.


back to topic. Man, I like barry.. but that would've been one of the greatest trades of all time.

[Pandaemonaeon]

Smith just a dunker? He's a better three-point shooter than Barry is.

Okay, I haven't seen much of Barry this year but if he could still shoot then he's still better than Smith. JR couldn't hit an open jumpshot (unless he's on a rhythm) to save his life. He's so bad I think Stack could beat him on a shoot-out.

Don't get me wrong: I'd still take him because it's essentially an aging (and alleged) underperforming fossil for a young, athletic swingman - just not because on the pretense that he's a better shooter.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

JR Smith is a dime-a-dozen dumbass that Gregg Popovich would eat alive. He also can't do anything but dunk, which I guess is one thing more than Barry can do but whatever.

Who cares?

[Kori Ellis]

JR Smith is a dime-a-dozen dumbass that Gregg Popovich would eat alive. He also can't do anything but dunk, which I guess is one thing more than Barry can do but whatever.

Who cares?

It doesn't matter how good JR Smith is. It would have gotten rid of Barry's burdening contract (which still has two years left after this one). And left the Spurs with a cheap, raw player who is only 20 years old, extremely athletic, and a decent shooter.

[Streakyshooter08]

Do you guys think this will affect Brent in the way he plays? I bet he is pretty pissed right now. Either he comes up strong or he will play even worse...

[Bruno]

Some news (you need to register to read the article) (http://newsok.com/article/1769913/?template=sports/main)


Scott declined to give specifics of the deal that fell apart. He did say that the Hornets had entered discussions on another trade about 30 minutes before the deadline and with five minutes left, both teams were in agreement.
“We got it (to the league) five minutes after the clock and they said, ‘No deal.’” Scott said. “So it was squashed, and everybody in the room was a little disappointed. We were that close to really feeling pretty good about the whole thing.”

[timvp]

Scott declined to give specifics of the deal that fell apart. He did say that the Hornets had entered discussions on another trade about 30 minutes before the deadline and with five minutes left, both teams were in agreement.
“We got it (to the league) five minutes after the clock and they said, ‘No deal.’” Scott said. “So it was squashed, and everybody in the room was a little disappointed. We were that close to really feeling pretty good about the whole thing.”

:pctoss :pctoss

[Kori Ellis]

^^ That's a shame if that's the Spurs deal and it's the only reason it fell apart.

[timvp]

Perhaps both teams will talk again in the summer.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

Funny how the same people that are salivating over JR Smith were professing a year ago that the Spurs would rue the day they traded Malik Rose for Nazr Mohammed.......yeah there's a trade that never worked out.

Get ready for the fullsportpress annointment of JR Smith as the second coming. From this day forward, every game the Spurs lose, there will be at least one "If we had JR Smith, we would have won this game" thread.

[timvp]

But I'm guessing by then, other teams will be lining up for JR Smith.

[Kori Ellis]

Funny how the same people that are salivating over JR Smith were professing a year ago that the Spurs would rue the day they traded Malik Rose for Nazr Mohammed.......yeah there's a trade that never worked out.

Get ready for the fullsportpress annointment of JR Smith as the second coming. From this day forward, every game the Spurs lose, there will be at least one "If we had JR Smith, we would have won this game" thread.

I guess you don't get that it's not really about JR Smith, it's about getting rid of Barry.

[Bruno]

But I'm guessing by then, other teams will be lining up for JR Smith.

Maybe but his value won't increase, it's higly unlikely that he'll play a minute under scott.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

Kori,

There are far worse contracts than Barry's on the payroll- see our now backup center at roughly seven million a year for the next three years as an example of this.

[Kori Ellis]

Kori,

There are far worse contracts than Barry's on the payroll- see our now backup center at roughly seven million a year for the next three years as an example of this.

Of course, many big men around the league are grossly overpaid.

But Barry's is a contract that they had the opportunity to get rid of. He's going to be making ~6M when he's 36. It's better to get rid of it now. This was an opportunity to deal with a team under the cap, so the Spurs could take back a much smaller contract in JR Smith. It would have been a great financial move, and it couldn't be a bad thing basketball wise.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

Ok, point taken

But for the record, JR Smith in my opinion, is the personification of what's wrong with North American basketball these days. Raw, dumb, selfish and totally one-dimensional.

I'm no Barry fan but he did contribute in last year's playoff run- that counts for something.

[MI21]

JR Smith on a fast break with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili would be incredible.

Absolute shame this deal didn't go through, but I would still rather see Barry out there in the playoffs than JR.

But in the future, Smith will be an absolute star.

[spurster]

Stern sucks.

[angel_luv]

I'm happy you're still here, Brent. Prove me right. That is all. :D

[spur219]

Damn JR Smith has a very big upside. The thought of Parker at his prime and JR Smith could have been scary. Oh well.

[MoSpur]

No one has mentioned this so I will. It didn't go through for a reason. The reason was time, but I am not talking about that. Everything happens for a reason. I am not a huge fan of Barry right now, but.........................you never know. Maybe in the playoffs Barry will have one of those Steve Kerr moments. I would think Barry has a better chance of having a Steve Kerr moment than JR Smith would.

[pache100]

Everything happens for a reason.

That is one of the rules I live my life by...another is, "Be careful what you ask for because you might get it." What you think you want, what you ask for, can come back and bite you in the butt.

[ShoogarBear]

But for the record, JR Smith in my opinion, is the personification of what's wrong with North American basketball these days.

Next to Tim Duncan, you mean.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Walton,


But for the record, JR Smith in my opinion, is the personification of what's wrong with North American basketball these days. Raw, dumb, selfish and totally one-dimensional.


This same quote could be used to describe Buckets before he got to the Spurs.

Overpaid big men is the price of doing business in the NBA these days.

This would have been a great deal. Somehow if the Lakers would have been the ones pocketing JR I bet the league would have let this go through.

Oh well, something to look forward to this summer when teams start talking trade. It's obvious JR's days in New Orleans are numbered.

[MoSpur]

I am all for the Spurs going after JR Smith in the summer because IF they land him, he has lots of time to learn from Pop.

[v2freak]

Hah, I'm probably the only person who was glad this fell through. I'm a big Barry fan and I appreciate his not coming off the bench and taking 3 shots in 1 minute. He does so many things well for this team - hitting clutch shots, moving the ball and setting up teammates.

I understand a lot of people also want him to move because of his contract, so I'm really hoping he can step it up in the playoffs

(I'm also irked by Smith's comments in 1 issue of Slam magazine)

[ploto]

Interesting comments-- the one story said it involved multiple teams and this just mentions the one. Wonder, thoguh, if something else fell through or why would these talks have been so late?? Everyone believed Smith was getting traded somewhere.

The whole idea is to clear Barry' salary since they now got Finley for half the price. No one knew when Brent came here that this would happen. Brent was cheaper than Jax or Hedo that summer.

[Russ]

Ludden: Brent Barry almost dealt for JR Smith

I'm sorry, but who the hell is JR Smith?

[Budkin]

So the only reason the deal fell through is that they got it in 5 minutes late? I'm confused.

[v2freak]

JR Smith is a 6'6" guard on the New Orlean Hornets; he participated in the Slam Dunk Contest 1 year ago against Josh Smith and co.

[ploto]

So the only reason the deal fell through is that they got it in 5 minutes late? I'm confused.

Well it appears that the Hornets had a deal that they worked out but it got through five minutes after the deadline. People are assuming it was for Brent.

[pache100]

So the only reason the deal fell through is that they got it in 5 minutes late? I'm confused.

There has to be a deadline; otherwise, trades would be going on all the time, at any point in the season, day or night. I respect the NBA for sticking by their rule.

[Russ]

So the only reason the deal fell through is that they got it in 5 minutes late? I'm confused.

Spurs probably submitted the deal five minutes late on purpose. Just to shake up the team, get 'em worried ("appropriate fear" as Pop would say), get 'em to stop taking things for granted, get 'em ready for the playoff push.

[angel_luv]

Spurs probably submitted the deal five minutes late on purpose. Just to shake up the team, get 'em worried ("appropriate fear" as Pop would say), get 'em to stop taking things for granted, get 'em ready for the playoff push.


I know Pop is CIA when it comes to trades but I really don't think he is cruel like that.

[clubalien]

I wish we would have traded barry for ron artest. Seems we are only able to pull off trades for scrubs. Barry isn't working out to good here dispite being an allstar champ and a nba champ.


but never fear for Ian will soon be here. and he will dominate OLD school style

[mattyc]

Oh my freakin' god. That would have been one of the most slick moves ever. Get rid of a bad contract for a future star.

[Peter]

This story doesn't make sense. Surely the Spurs didn't lose out because they got the paperwork f'ed up. If they did, heads will roll like the one time prior I'm drawing a blank on (I think it was a scout who screwed up on the eligibility of a intl prospect for the draft).

[clubalien]

someone has said that the spurs purposly filled late and got leage to disapprove. So the trade wouldn't go through but would send a message to the team about performance.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

This has to be the most depressing thing I've read all month.

Fucking Jonas. This is so typical. Now we're just gonna keep being old and injured.

[Peter]

someone has said that the spurs purposly filled late and got leage to disapprove. So the trade wouldn't go through but would send a message to the team about performance.

I couldn't imagine that that was the reason. Likely it took the Hornets too long to agree (or a 3rd team to, as it was reported to have been a "multi-team" deal by Ludden) so that there wasn't time to meet the deadline.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I cant believe the trade deadlines are that strict...five minutes late and no deal? What a load of shit...

ARghghg :pctoss

[ploto]

This story doesn't make sense. Surely the Spurs didn't lose out because they got the paperwork f'ed up. If they did, heads will roll like the one time prior I'm drawing a blank on (I think it was a scout who screwed up on the eligibility of a intl prospect for the draft).

?Noccioni

[Bruno]

?Noccioni

Or Seattle drafting Zukauskas in 1995 thinking it was Ilgauskas ?

[rascal]

If the spurs wanted this bad enough they wouldn't have waited to the last minutes to do it.

The spurs are not agressive at trading in general. So many big named players have switched teams the last 5 years through trades and (some were dumped for almost nothing in return) the spurs have not gotten anyone much better than a role player here or there.

They do not make improvements thru trades.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

They do not make improvements thru trades.

Right, it's not like they traded an end of bench overpaid 'big man' for the guy who was their starting center for their playoff run to a ring or anything...

[Tobias]

Maybe we can revive the trade in summer? =(

[Cant_Be_Faded]

This is such a farse....those GM's are strumpets I tell ya!! STRRUMpets!!!

peter bryant's c woulda e'd if JR smith threw down a viscious dunk for his first basket as a Spur
timvp too

I guess we'll all have to keep dreaming

[polandprzem]

In summer it will be tougher to trade for this guy.

I like Barry a lot. And many of us know his locker room value. But having JR would be something for the future.
Parker-Manu-JR as MI21 said what a backcourt. In flashy meaning.

Under Pop's system and TD's presents this JRman would have been mean. Maaaaaan

[Peter]

Hopefully he and Scott continue to jaw at each other through the media and Scott disparages him so thoroughly that most of the sheep GMs around the league believe that he's not worth it this summer.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

locker room value is a euphemism for 'this guy sucks ass on the court but doesn't solicit drugs in the locker room either'

[polandprzem]

Hopefully he and Scott continue to jaw at each other through the media and Scott disparages him so thoroughly that most of the sheep GMs around the league believe that he's not worth it this summer.

pfffffffffffff we know you would not give enough money in summer for him :rolleyes

[Kori Ellis]

Smith not traded, but not popular with Coach Scott
Friday, February 24, 2006
By John Reid
Staff writer

http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-22/114076515439890.xml

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Despite the Hornets' push toward the playoffs, a rift has developed between Coach Byron Scott and second-year shooting guard J.R. Smith.

Both acknowledged before Thursday's trade deadline they haven't been on speaking terms since early January after Scott demoted Smith in favor of Kirk Snyder in the starting lineup.

Scott said Smith has not gotten better from last season, which forced him to lose his starting job.

"I stop talking to people that don't listen," Scott said. "I'm not going to waste my breath. I've sat down with J.R. on numerous occasions and told him what he needed to do, so have Coach (Darrell) Walker and Coach (Kenny) Gattison and Coach (Jim) Cleamons. And like I said before, if you chose to do it, then we'll work.

"If he chose not to, there is nothing I can do about that. I tell all our players what they need to do to improve. I have an open-door policy. There hasn't been one time that J.R. has come into my office and talked to me. Like I said, he's lying."

Scott said they have spoken only one time since January when Scott replaced him in the starting lineup after Smith called to ask if he was getting traded nearly two weeks ago.

"I said, 'No, we're not trying to trade you, but here's what you have to do, though,' " Scott said. "I don't understand what more you want. (He) comes in with five minutes left in practice (Monday in Indianapolis) and goes and sits down, and when we finish scrimmaging, (he) goes to shoot free throws, and he doesn't come to us and say 'Coach, I'm sorry that I overslept.' It's not acceptable."

Smith said Scott has taken it personally against him, from no longer playing him on a regular basis to having little communication.

Smith said he wasn't surprised when Scott did not play him in Wednesday night's loss to the Utah Jazz at the Ford Center, despite that backup guard Speedy Claxton was sidelined with a sprained left ankle; top scorer David West missed his second consecutive game to be with his wife and newborn daughter; Jackson Vroman, who started in place of West, broke his right wrist when he tried to break his fall after a dunk in the third quarter; and earlier in the quarter, Desmond Mason bruised his tailbone and did not return.

"I wasn't surprised at all, because his ego is too big in order to put something petty aside and try to win the game," Smith said. "At this point, something has to be done; I'm not going to prosper from this situation. When you can't communicate with the head guy, something is wrong. I come in early, stay in late, and if that don't work, I don't know what will. So there is nothing for me to do. I've approached him (Scott) numerous times, tried to call, set up meetings -- no communication. Every team I've been on, I've always been friends with the head coach."

It was speculated that Smith would be traded before Thursday's 2 p.m. deadline. He anticipated that it was going to happen after practice. But no deal occurred.

Scott and Hornets general manager Jeff Bower declined to say if Smith was part of the deal that couldn't be completed in time before the deadline, which the league did not allow.

But Bower said Smith's future remains with the Hornets. However, he gives his full support to Scott on how he handles players and the expectations he sets for them.

"The coach has it in his job to set expectations and performance levels that he's looking for, and it's the player's job to meet them," Bower said. "Playing time in a competitive situation and distribution of minutes is a very important thing. Earning those minutes and creating a role is something that has to be developed and not given. If one player is playing and the other player isn't, and if there is a change in that somebody else's minutes has to go. It's a competitive thing."

Scott said he doesn't think Smith's unhappiness will divide the team, because he believes the Hornets' veterans will handle the situation.

After the trade deadline passed, Scott said, "He (Smith) will be here. Like I said before, it isn't never going to be personal with me. But I would like for the man to start telling the truth, that he'd be honest not only with you guys (media) but also his self. That's to me is the bottom line."


NOTE: Vroman will miss the remainder of the season with a broken right wrist that occurred in Wednesday's loss to the Utah Jazz, Scott said. Vroman was injured after he went up for a two-handed dunk and fell to the floor and put both arms behind his back to break the fall. Vroman averaged 1.8 points and 2.1 rebounds.

"It wasn't a good break," Scott said. "He's got to get a plate in there and everything."

[Peter]

Scott hated Jack too. The Spurs might just yet get another young SG prospect thanks to Scott's arrogance.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Jackson Vroman out of Iowa State, also known as "young vlade" for his unkempt appearance in college, owned UT in his senior year bc of missed Boddicker free throws.

[Peter]

pfffffffffffff we know you would not give enough money in summer for him :rolleyes


eh?

[MoSpur]

What about a buyout?

[Peter]

What about a buyout?


They could. If all parties to the would-be trade really wanted it to happen, this summer the Spurs could get their man.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

We should have kept Big Dog.

[MoSpur]

I know its me wishing, but I would love this guy to be in a Spurs uniform. I would wish for the Hornets to buy this guy's contract out before the March 1st deadline.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

At this piont, its up to JR Smith. If he wants out, he'll do something stupid or ask for his contract to be bought out. However, thats under the assumption that he knows the Spurs want him. He doesn't strike me as the internet spurstalking type, so he'll probably stay on the hornets team.

[ChumpDumper]

If he's bought out, then he goes on the waiver wire and any team with cap room or exceptions has a shot at picking up his original deal in order of shitty record. He'd be long gone before the Spurs had a turn.

Smith will still be under contract this summer and the Hornets should be under the cap far enough to absorb Barry's salary. An offseason trade is a possibility. It actually works out better for us this season.

[Despot]

This was in Rumor Central on ESPN

Time Runs Out For Spurs, Hornets
Feb 24 - The Spurs nearly traded Brent Barry on Thursday afternoon in a multi-team deal that would have netted guard J.R. Smith, two NBA sources told the San Antonio Express-News. According to the newspaper, the deal was close enough to completion that Spurs officials initially told Barry he might not need to board the team's charter flight. The deal unraveled near the trade deadline.
After trading for Marc Jackson and Linton Johnson, Hornets coach Byron Scott said the team had another deal in the works, but it was completed five minutes after the deadline and the NBA did not approve it, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

According to The Oklahoman, both Hornets GM Jeff Bower and Byron Scott were visibly disappointed soon after the trade deadline. "We got it to the league five minutes after the clock and they said, 'No deal.'" Scott told the newspaper. "So it was squashed, and everybody in the room was a little disappointed. We were that close to really feeling pretty good about the whole thing."

[exstatic]

Dumbfucks. The league DOES grant extensions, if you call them before the deadline.

[clubalien]

locker room value is a euphemism for 'this guy sucks ass on the court but doesn't solicit drugs in the locker room either'

sean marks?

[Leetonidas]

So according to the ESPN article, we would've had JR Smith if this deal was done 5 minutes earlier? WTF!?

Maybe the Spurs will make a run at him in the offseason? It's obvious they still want him.

[j-6]

Smith said he wasn't surprised when Scott did not play him in Wednesday night's loss to the Utah Jazz at the Ford Center, despite that backup guard Speedy Claxton was sidelined with a sprained left ankle; top scorer David West missed his second consecutive game to be with his wife and newborn daughter; Jackson Vroman, who started in place of West, broke his right wrist when he tried to break his fall after a dunk in the third quarter; and earlier in the quarter, Desmond Mason bruised his tailbone and did not return.

Damn. Four players out and he still didn't see the floor? That's a pretty heavy gauge steel chain strapped to JR Smith and Scott's doghouse.

[polandprzem]

Dammit if we'll pull this trade in the offseason than singing Nazr would be easier because of more cap space.

[timvp]

So it was Rod Thorn's fault.

Figures.

[Bruno]

Parker has said on his radio show that the deal was Barry for Smith and Macijauskas.

[Peter]

Parker has said on his radio show that the deal was Barry for Smith and Macijauskas.


Damn. Hopefully this deal can be revisited in the summer.

[timvp]

Parker has said on his radio show that the deal was Barry for Smith and Macijauskas.

Damn.

Arvydas ain't half bad either.

:pctoss

[Bruno]

Damn.

Arvydas ain't half bad either.

:pctoss

Agree.
A rough sum up of what Parker has said :
- Spurs almost traded Barry for Smith and Macijauskas.
- Spurs really wanted to trade Barry because he doesn't play, has difficulties to play with Spurs and earned $5M per year.
- It was a financial move : Spurs have to re-sign Nazr this summer.
- Macijauskas is a good player that can play well for Spurs.
- Maybe the trade will happen this summer. (just a speculation from Parker)
- Everybody like Barry but he doesn't play and earned all the same $5M per year , rather try something different.

And a reason why Parker wasn't really good last week (against Warriors and Grizzlies) is that he caught a cold.

[MoSpur]

Should Parker be addressing questions as to why the team was trying to trade Barry?

[Kori Ellis]

Should Parker be addressing questions as to why the team was trying to trade Barry?

No. The Spurs' policy is to not discuss this type of stuff. He'll probably get in trouble :lol

[Peter]

Hopefully the Hornets don't wise up between now and June/July.

[Bruno]

Should Parker be addressing questions as to why the team was trying to trade Barry?

During this show he is alone at home, on his sofa and speaking thru a thing like Skype.
If you add that he speaks in French (he says way more things because it's his native language) and that journalists that run the show are always the same (they should be friends with Parker after more than 50 broadcast with him and after meetings during the summer), the result is that Parker says lots of things. Last time he explained what means gestures he did to announce plays or he said that Willis was to dumb to remember plays.

[IcemanCometh]

Well Christing-fuck

[spurschick]

I would really like to see Macijauskas in a Spurs uniform - hope it happens someday.

[ShoogarBear]

No. The Spurs' policy is to not discuss this type of stuff. He'll probably get in trouble :lol

Parker and Barry for Paul and JR Smith?

[SenorSpur]

Hopefully the Hornets don't wise up between now and June/July.

For real. I hope we can still get Smith this summer.

[Gutter92]

:lol

[Gutter92]

No. The Spurs' policy is to not discuss this type of stuff. He'll probably get in trouble :lol

The more you know..

[DesignatedT]

Would have won the ship that year if this deal went through.

[ShoogarBear]

And maybe TP would still be married.

WTF was this bumped anyway? We aren't waiting for The Finals to start anymore.

[Actually]

off topic, but how do you dig up old posts? I remember there was a post about quotes of coach pop several years ago and it was brilliant. since recently coach pop's quotes attract so much media love i kinda want to revisit that post again.

[DPG21920]

I wonder how long the Erin thing was going on. TP trying to get Barry outtttttttta the picture.

[Juggity]

JR Smith is a dime-a-dozen dumbass that Gregg Popovich would eat alive. He also can't do anything but dunk, which I guess is one thing more than Barry can do but whatever.

Who cares?

In retrospect, this was an A+ take.

[lefty]

This reminds me of the time the Spurs almost signed Jermaine O'Neal back in the summer of 1999.


Ghost Writer can be heard crying tonight.

But damn, that would have been a robbery.


Fuck!!!!!


*shakes head in disgust*


:pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss

WHO CANCELED THE TRADE!!?!?!?!?!


Another season, another CIA Pop. Pop insisted that no trade was going to be made.

:spin


JR would have been the perfect player to groom. He's ultra-athletic. He's pretty long. He has unlimited range. He isn't afraid to shoot.

And most importantly, he could have been had and kept for peanuts.




:lmao :lmao :lmao :rollin

[in2deep]

:lol

Wow just wow

[Prime Time]

To be fair, JR could have developed with the Spurs much better than he did with the..... Thuggets :lol

[elmanutres]

Where are all these bumps coming from? Is it throwback week or something?

[dg7md]

Why was this bumped?

But anyway, JR Smith would fit into the Spurs' system pretty well because he has skills, he just needs to be coached and be placed in a better system.

[Darius McCrary]

Well one day again eventually the Spurs will have an athletic, young athlete who can jump and dunk :smokin

:smokin indeed

[timvp]

If Pop got JR Smith early and domesticated him .... damn, that would have been scary.

But that would probably have been an impossible task with friend-killer.

[timvp]

:lmao :lmao :lmao :rollin

?

JR Smith remains one of the top ten most talented players in the league. Sure, he's as dumb as a rock but if Pop somehow could have got him to turn the corner (not vehicle-wise) seven years ago, his potential would have been off the charts.

[100%duncan]

?

JR Smith remains one of the top ten most talented players in the league. Sure, he's as dumb as a rock but if Pop somehow could have got him to turn the corner (not vehicle-wise) seven years ago, his potential would have been off the charts.
:lmao :lmao

[TE]

?

JR Smith remains one of the top ten most talented players in the league. Sure, he's as dumb as a rock but if Pop somehow could have got him to turn the corner (not vehicle-wise) seven years ago, his potential would have been off the charts.
:lol

[Splits]

Andre Bell wishes this trade happened.

[MannyIsGod]

Would have won the ship that year if this deal went through.

Almost traded Brent Barry was an incredibly good player for the Spurs.

[phxspurfan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5s8aHosHJE

What might have been.

[cheguevara]

Lol jr domesticated

Thats a pretty racist comment. Plus that nigga would never be domesticated as long as Henessy is sold as a legal good

Why do ppl think Pop is some kind of nigga whisperer?

[Spur|n|Austin]

I wonder how long the Erin thing was going on. TP trying to get Barry outtttttttta the picture.

Seems exactly as that was such. :lol


Lol jr domesticated

Thats a pretty racist comment. Plus that nigga would never be domesticated as long as Henessy is sold as a legal good

Why do ppl think Pop is some kind of nigga whisperer?

:lmao I may put this post in my sig :lol

[mudyez]

TP is glad, it didn't go down...

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/512/364/Erin-barry-51_display_image.jpg?1290118518
>
http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/76/76/767608793261723693e6bd1481129399.jpg?itok=U8h_CrAg

[#2!]

Lol jr domesticated

Thats a pretty racist comment. Plus that nigga would never be domesticated as long as Henessy is sold as a legal good

Why do ppl think Pop is some kind of nigga whisperer?

My thoughts exactly (except hilarious, and ass backwards pc wise).

Even though Pop is a better coach than Woodson, D'Antoni, or Karl those three guys are not scrubs. It's a little ridiculous to think that he would just stop being himself, which amounts to world-level talent combined with the intelligence of someone who was lucky to graduate high school tbh. Every fan in the league has had fantasies about JR Smith joining their team and magically getting his shit together, but its just not who he is.

Pop hasn't worked miracles - this season's spurs included at least three players that have been involved in the rap game (TP & Jax each have albums, and Blair has his own production company) - the fact is that the Spurs front office tries to maintain a solid ratio when it comes to intelligence:importance to team.

[Budkin]

Man I remember this thread. We were all so pissed. Reading this now it's kinda like we suddenly got a look into the future or something. That was 7 years ago?? Holy fuck.

[LkrFan]

?

JR Smith remains one of the top ten most talented players in the league. Sure, he's as dumb as a rock but if Pop somehow could have got him to turn the corner (not vehicle-wise) seven years ago, his potential would have been off the charts.
That's cold! :rollin :lmao :rollin

[baseline bum]

Walton Buys Off Me clowning all of us in this thread. :lol

Damn, that would have sucked to lose Barry for that faggot.

[nkdlunch]

Bingo pop is a coach not a miracle worker. Lol at the ppl on this thread thinking jr on the spurs would have been a good idea

[MANUNG-Ginobili]

I wonder if this deal was completed..

[BatManu20]

Terrible bump.

[Chris]

Why bump this thread

https://38.media.tumblr.com/1fc40a1faed996102012c46dd999ac74/tumblr_n32wp5LbjG1tw1vhco1_500.gif

[DJR210]

Thread and players have no relevance

[Uriel]

Why the fuck can't Jeff MxDonald write articles like this? The only true insider left in the SA Express-Bews is Buck Harvey, and he only occasionally writes columns. McDonald, on the other hand, might as well be writing for the Associated Press.

[gee]

I wonder if this deal was completed..
the first post says it wasn't

[MmP]

What a strange move to pull. JR Smith was a punk by then. Strange coming from Pop.

[exstatic]

What a strange move to pull. JR Smith was a punk by then. Strange coming from Pop.

I disagree. He was 20, and hadn't yet come under the influence of Melo. He only had one year left on his rookie deal, with a year 4 option that would have been at the Spurs disgression. It was very low risk, very high reward.

[Andre Bell]

I disagree. He was 20, and hadn't yet come under the influence of Melo. He only had one year left on his rookie deal, with a year 4 option that would have been at the Spurs disgression. It was very low risk, very high reward.

True, my nigga woulda been an All-Star. Fucc what these ignorant wetbacks are saying bout the homie.

[Emperor]

True, my nigga woulda been an All-Star. Fucc what these ignorant wetbacks are saying bout the homie.

5 posts in and already with the racial comments?

[Andre Bell]

5 posts in and already with the racial comments?

Fucc outta here nigga, keeping it real.

[Emperor]

Fucc outta here nigga, keeping it real.

First learn to spell. But yes i think J.R. Smith sure had the talent to become an All Star. BUT, your "nigga" is probably the dumbest NBA player to ever step on the court. And that's keeping it real.

[lefty]

Damn. That would have been sweet.
:lmao

[baseline bum]

Well one day again eventually the Spurs will have an athletic, young athlete who can jump and dunk :smokin

:toast

http://giant.gfycat.com/PastHardtofindFlounder.gif

[baseline bum]

If the spurs wanted this bad enough they wouldn't have waited to the last minutes to do it.

The spurs are not agressive at trading in general. So many big named players have switched teams the last 5 years through trades and (some were dumped for almost nothing in return) the spurs have not gotten anyone much better than a role player here or there.

They do not make improvements thru trades.

LOL rascal was still a faggot back then too